Pride! Success IS Coming...

Pride and I had a great session today!! I was thinking last night and I found that Pride and I had a weakness in the Driving Game and Squeeze Game, our other games are about 98% (there is ALWAYS room for improvement!). We practiced those until Phase 1 could be used. Then we practiced following the rail in Track 1! Close enought to the fence to reach out and touch it with your hand, not close enough to smear your leg. Then once Pride understood that, we started doing bends toward the rail until he stopped, then brought his front around so now we could go the opposite way (preporation for roll-backs). We did this at a walk and trot, then we turned into the center and changed direction maintaning the gait we were in. He did so well! I'd focus into the center and just like if I had picked up the reins and told him to he went!  He was following my gaze, I didn't have to do anything but look! Maybe once I had to point my belly button, but hey that was once!
Eyes, belly button, legs, then reins or stick. -Pat Parelli
That is the sequence it should go. We did some loping too, practiced leaning back and tickling him on the rump so he could pop out in front of me!
Also one more thing I forgot to add, we practiced lateral flexion. You probably know that its not good for your horse when his head is pulled around if his ears aren't level with eachother. If they aren't its an indicator that  your horse is putting his weight on his front end. This can be damaging to your horse and even break them down. I've been doing that with Pride, today he kept bending his head around, but his ears were not even. Like I said before this is an indicator that the weight is on his front end, so I asked him to back up while his head was bent, forcing the weight to go back on his hind end. It seemed to work, I saw a little improvement then decided to quit for the day after several more tries. I thought that was great! I didn't want to stress any of Prides muscles.

"Find the limit and go to it. Don't go over it." -Pat Parelli

Keep it Natural!

Kaylee

PS. Hey everyone, forgot to add I've been taking a spray bottle out with me and Pride. So everytime he does something good I spray him down (because believe it or not its in the 80s here!) and HE LOVES IT!! It works just like a treat! I also love it! :) I spray myself off too!